False Alarm: Turns Out Verizon & Microsoft Have No Exclusive Contract

Yesterday, we wrote an article based off information found on The Droid Guy that Verizon would remove Google Search from all future Verizon phones in replacement of Bing. This uproar of confusion started when Verizon’s new Samsung Galaxy S phone, the Fascinate, was noted to have Google Search removed and in fact “blocked” from users installing the software. In addition, Fascinate users are stuck with the VZW Navigation software by default as well. I’m not sure how Microsoft or Verizon imagined this would go, but the press have not been happy so far.

The same day we found many reliable sources (Engadget for example) that stated Microsoft and Verizon have denied any exclusive contract regarding future Android phones on Verizon. In fact, Verizon has gone far enough to state that:

…that is not true. We have a relationship with Microsoft and Bing is the search engine on our multi-media phones but we have never said it would be exclusive on all of our devices.

I don’t know if anyone else caught it there but the statement that confuses me here is the use of the word “multi-media phones”. I’m not sure I would describe any Android device as a multi-media phone but maybe we shouldn’t panic over their choice of words either. Later in the day, Microsoft backed Verizon’s statement that their is no exclusive contract for all devices to have Bing put as the default search engine. My question is, why did you choose to do that with the Fascinate?

Now for the good news: Android users who have VZW devices that can upgrade to Android 2.2 (Froyo) will be able to get their hands on Google Voice Actions which includes a widget of the ever-popular Google Search. Verizon has also stated that the Fascinate will be upgraded to Froyo but of course, no time frame was given regarding the upgrade. This should relief users from being stuck with Bing as a search engine on their phones. Will the Froyo upgrade also allow Fascinate users to utilize Google Maps as well?

Not surprisingly, there has been a large amount of discussion on the topic with the default Bing search engine and removing (and blocking) Google Maps from an Android device. Many users have switched to Android for the pure reason of choice. The choice to choose what is installed on your device or not. The choice to use Bing or Google as your default search engine. The choice to use Google Maps or VZW Navigator or any other GPS navigation software. It seems carriers are really dictating your choice as of late. Personally, I was okay with the Sprint software loaded onto my HTC Evo. I’m looking forward to using the Sprint Football Live software this season, however, some others are not as excited as I am. Being forced to use Bing, however, just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Tell us what you think of this Verizon/Microsoft relationship. Are you willing to buy a Samsung Fascinate now that your armed with this information? Just remember, Verizon has quite a few other Android devices to choose from: LG Ally, Motorola Devour, Droid X, Droid Incredible, and Droid 2.